Picking up from where we left off yesterday, we seem to have this habit of making opposition goalies look good as of late. Does it mean that they are extra pumped to play the Montreal Canadiens, or are we taking a high number of easy shots to inflate their save percentage? My answer to that is simple…there is no such thing as a weak shot. Any puck going at the net has a chance of going in the form of a garbage goal. I would rather have 35 shots with 15 quality ones in there, instead of just 20 quality shots. Shots on goal tired the D and the goalie and they put pressure on the opposing team. So in my humble opinion the argument of, quality over quantity is mute.
The reason I think we have goalies and offensive players who have superb games against us is because in the eyes of the majority of the league, the Montreal Canadiens are a lower tier team which should be beat by any team who is looking to make the playoffs. This offers the extra motivation for some to get “psyched” out and play superb games against us. Why do they get the results? Because if a goalie is on his game, he’s just hard to beat…simply put. As for the offensive players, it has to do with the intensity level. If the opposing offense plays with a high level of intensity and fore-checks, it is no secret that we break down in our zone and that it usually leads to adverse results.
I would like to further expand on this idea, however with recent news on Kovalev dramatics, I feel certain things have to be said. From what I hear and read, fans are beginning to re-educate them selves on what Alex brings to this team. Every time he’s on the ice there is a chance of something happening. He has been tough, consistent, a leader and an intense player for our team. He deserves our praise, thanks and support, as the media has taken it upon them selves to try and tarnish his time here. I know there are a few of us in here who heard the interview first hand, and the description given by the media (both French and English) of Kovalev’s comments could not be taken out context any further without turning into claims of him harbouring the illusive Big-Foot in the VIP box he has donated to the kids heart foundation, in an attempt to reintroduce the creature into society by funding a remake of King Kong starring Big Foot as the Big Ape.
Regardless of whether Kovalev’s comments are right or wrong, whether the fact that there was no time for a time-out is factual or not, or whatever the circumstances; when the interviewer asked the question “What would you have done differently” it was a set-up. Any answer would have gotten Kovalev into the situation he is in now, whether he would have been called lazy, heartless, or criticising the coach and trying to divide the locker room. The fact of the matter is, he made a good point in a very humble way and sounded almost apologetic doing it. Furthermore, his reaction shows that he is intense and cares about the win…two dimensions in which the media criticised him through out the previous season. I say good riddance, and I sure hope the trade rumours of him leaving
Thankfully we have a coach who is astute and understands how the Montreal media works, and nipped this tabloid trash in the but by downplaying the issue, leaving the reporters and pests baffled at how the gloves didn’t come off. What oh what will they report on now? For some reason I get a mental image of an intern named “Jacques” sneaking into Kovalev’s house and planting a piece of negligee belonging to Mrs. Carbonneau. I can see the headlines now: “Kovalev questions Carbo’s coaching and now his manhood!” Give me a break. Why don’t these pests go do some real investigative journalism and figure what happened out of college to bring these aspiring journalist to become low life tabloid hustling sleazebags, pretending to be hockey connoisseurs.
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